Biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, and improved water security in the Lake Tanganyika basin

Lake Tanganyika and its basin are internationally recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot representing some of the world’s most diverse aquatic ecosystems and are renowned for their terrestrial biodiversity and picturesque beauty. A vital asset for millions of fish living in the catchment area, Lake Tanganyika has significant potential to generate additional benefits, provided it is managed with caution, consistency, and fairness.

The Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika was adopted in Tanzania on June 12, 2023. The contracting states to the convention are Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, and Zambia. The contracting states established the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) with international legal personality and the legal capacity necessary to carry out its functions and mission under the convention.

The greatest current threat to Lake Tanganyika is the unsustainable use of resources linked to the region’s growing population, high levels of poverty, and poor access to markets and services.

The project, led by BUCODAC, is based on the implementation of three complementary strategic approaches that will collectively contribute to improving the ecological status of Lake Tanganyika and its basin, and ensuring a more sustainable provision of ecosystem services to the Contracting States.